Last July, Beegeagle’s Blog you the first-ever photos of Nigerian Navy Bell Jet Ranger helicopters direct from the P-0-P of the SBS commandos in Lagos. That was the first time that we saw the airframe in Nigerian Navy service. No arms transfer logs had captured this fact until that time.

Today, we again bring you photos of at least two Bell Jet Ranger helicopters, conclusive proof that in addition to five Agusta A109e Power helics, the Navy also own a MINIMUM of two(very possibly more) Bell Jet Ranger helicopters.

Additionally, the FG budget for FY 2012 made provision for the acquisition of another four helicopters of an unknown type.

Stay with Beegeagle’s Blog..steer clear of speculation and read the FACTS first-hand, all the time.

When we stake claims to ownership of any hardware systems, we do one or more of the following

– show a news report detailing the planned or actual acquisition/delivery of the said hardware system

– produce excerpts from an arms transfer log or a manufacturer’s press statement to back up our claim

– best of all, show the hardware system in Nigerian service.

Otherwise, we SHUT UP and refrain from ridiculing ourselves through wild speculation fringing on desperation. Our credibility is our unique selling point. What we say should always be good enough to take to the bank 🙂

Coming from you, that nails it conclusively. So we have five Agusta A109e Power, two Bell Jet Ranger..with four helicopters on order in FY 2012.

By the same token, the Maritime Guard Command which is jointly run by the NN and NIMASA own an AW 139 which is operated by the NN Air Arm.

Well, the Naval Air Station at Effurun, near Warri, under the AOR of the new Central Naval Command, should be nearing completion now. Next, Calabar Naval Air Station for the Eastern Naval Command.

It all comes down to even more airframes soon. Because the NN’s 10-year Plan has 42 helicopters in view, it is clear that all the naval bases and coastal FOBs shall eventually get helicopters. Not to mention the six new stealth, helicopter-carrying oceangoing ships which are almost certainly going to be in service between 2013 and 2015. NNS Aradu and NNS Thunder too.

what i want to honestly see 2013/14
1) Aradu sails to Germany for repairs
2) progress on the 2 opvs from china
3) Strengthening of relations with Britain which should culminate in the acquisition of MBTs
4) The arrival/ physical location of the 6TH ARMY DIVISION
5) LT. GEN IHEJIRIKA promoted to General IHEJIRIKA
6) Come FEB T THE ARRIVAL of the 3X C130s

Oga Jimmy I beg modify #3, MBTs should be the german leopard 2A series Not the challenger.
Only the brits and the jordanians use the challenger tanks. It may be a great tank, but no thanks.
They would charge us 10 million usd per tank, and we would spend a 1000 yrs repaying the london club.

This helicopter costs about $1m. It can be bargained down to $600,000 with a song and a dance. If the navy needs this type of helicopter, why only buy two? Maybe, the navy should buy more helicopters, since they are cheaper, for surveillance of our seas until they have the money to buy more ocean going vessels.